302 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



IMPERIAL. 



(Vinifera, Labrusca.) 



I. Horticulturist, 29:328. 1874. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.. 1875:114. 3. TV. N. Y. Hort. Soc. 

 Rpt., 1891:45. 4. Bush. Cat., 1894:140. 

 No. 93 A (i). 



Although introduced nearly forty years ago, Imperial is still little 

 known and does not appear to have especial value. Perhaps its most 

 valuable character is hardiness as it is reputed to be as hardy as Concord 

 which, for a grape having its proportion of Vinifera blood, is the exception. 

 In appearance and quality Imperial is very good and were its vine characters 

 better, and were there not so many excellent green grapes of its season with 

 which it must compete, the variety would be more generally cultivated. 



Imperial is a seedling of lona fertilized by Sarbelle Muscat and was 

 raised by J. H. Ricketts of Newburgh, New York, over thirty years ago. 

 The following description has been compiled from various sources: 



Vine vigorous, healthy, hardy. Leaves large, attractive green. Fruit ripens late. 

 Clusters large, sj'mmetrical, slightly shouldered, rather compact. Berries large, greenish- 

 white, covered with considerable bloom. Flesh tender, juicy, vinous, sprightly, not high 

 in flavor but agreeable, good to very good in quality. Seeds small, not numerous. 



lONA. 



(Labrusca, Vinifera.) 



I. Horticulturist, 18:313. 1863. 2. Mag. Hort., 29:420. 1863. 3. Grant, Descript. Cat., 1864:8, 

 9, 18, 19, 21, 32. 4. Grant, Grape Vines, 1864:1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 12. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1867:44. 

 6. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1867:105. 7. lovja Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1867:108. 8. Am. Jour. Hort., 5:15, 

 187, 298, 299. 1869. 9. Horticulturist, 25:186. 1870. 10. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1871:69. 11. Hor- 

 ticulturist, 29:20, 245. 1874. 12. Mich. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1875:355. 13. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:39. 

 14. Mich. Pom. Soc. Rpt.. 1881:222. 15. W. .V. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 31:120. 1886. 16. .V. Y. 

 Sta. An. Rpt., 9:328. i8go. 17. Col. Sta. Bui., 29:21. 1894. 18. Bush. Cat., 1894:140. 19. .V. Y. 

 Sta. An. Rpt., 17:531. 548, 552, 555, 559. 1898. 20. Va. Sta. Bui., 94:137. 1898. 21. Miss. Sta. 

 Bui., 56:15. 1899. 22. Mo. Sta. B-tl., 46:39, 43, 44, 45, 51. 76. 1S99. 



lona is probably surpassed in delicacy and sprightliness of flavor, in 

 keeping quality, and for making certain wines, as champagne, by few, if an}-, 

 other American grapes. In spite of these several good qualities it has never 

 been very generally grown, chiefly for the reason that it reciuires more 

 care than commercial grape-growers are willing to give grapes, though, 

 beside requiring the best of care, its cultivation is hindered by several 



